National’s Kyoto decision causing backlash at Doha

The National Government’s decision
to reject making meaningful commitments to reduce New
Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions has raised the risk of
New Zealand being locked out of international carbon
markets.

“New Zealand is being shamed on the
international stage every day here in Doha and we can no
longer hold our heads high for our approach on climate
change,” said Green Party climate change spokesperson
Kennedy Graham, who is at the United Nations international
climate change talks.

The National Government last month
announced New Zealand would not to sign up to a second
commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, a global agreement
with binding obligations to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
The first commitment period stops at the end of the year.
Australia, and 36 other countries, intend to sign up
again.

“The National Government has gutted the Emissions
Trading Scheme aimed at reducing emissions and has also
failed to make binding commitments to achieve reductions,”
Dr Graham said.

“There are serious concerns being raised
by countries which are signing up to the second commitment
period, that New Zealand is trying to free-load by accessing
international carbon markets after refusing to accept the
same legal obligations as Europeans and
Australians.

“Official attendees at the conference are
being diplomatic but many have made it clear that they find
it a bit rich for New Zealand to fail to pull its weight by
signing up to binding reductions but wanting to retain all
the benefits.

“The National Ministers here will be
pushing to change the Kyoto rules so New Zealand can have
its cake and eat it. It seems that Climate Change Minister
Tim Groser’s idea of New Zealand doing its fair share is
for others to do the work and for New Zealand to reap the
benefit.

“Wouldn’t it be ironic if New Zealand is shut
out of the international carbon trading systems which would
see the price of carbon here soar? The National Government
could, by accident, actually restore some of the point to
the ETS.

“However, if the price of carbon were to
increase, I’m sure that this National Government will be
on hand to immediately change the law so polluters don’t
have to pay. That cost would again be loaded on the
taxpayer.

“New Zealand has now received five fossil
awards for our climate failures, while the most senior UN
Nations climate change figure, Christiana Figueres, has
described New Zealand’s position on Kyoto as very
disappointing.

“The National Government downplays its
decision not to make Kyoto commitments but that decision has
dismayed some who once saw New Zealand as an ally in the
fight to combat climate change,” Dr Graham said.

“To
quote one source here at Doha yesterday: ‘New Zealand will
need to make a choice – is it serious about climate
change, or does it wish to be singled out as an obstacle to
progress?’

“It seems the National Government has
already made its choice,” Dr Graham
said.

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